Floods wash away 1,806 hectares of farmland, threaten food supplies
Summary
Floods in Bhotekoshi have washed away 1,806 hectares of agricultural land, damaging paddy, soybean and pulse crops in Nuwakot and threatening local food production. Officials warn the losses could raise imports, push up food prices and weaken food security.
Key Points
- Bhotekoshi floods have damaged 1,806 hectares of farmland, according to a preliminary assessment by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
- Paddy fields in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot, suffered the worst losses, along with soybean and pulse crops planted along field bunds.
- Officials warn that the damage could cut food production by 7,686 tonnes and increase Nepal’s dependence on imports.
- The floods have also disrupted climate-resilient farming projects that were promoting indigenous crops and new paddy varieties.
